Share this with

Rafael Benitez has for the third time in his reign as Liverpool boss dismissed suggestions that he is on the brink of quitting to take over at Real Madrid.

But significantly Benitez’s words come within hours of the club’s new owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett saying they plan to sit down with the Anfield chief to discuss the long-term future of the club.

The two situations may well not be linked but Benitez’s words could not have come at a more convenient time for the US moguls, who are very close to a 100 per cent buy-up of all the club’s shares.

Benitez has been linked yet again with Madrid at a time when Fabio Capello is under increasing pressure at the club and it was suggested earlier this week that he had been put right at the top of their wanted list.

But Benitez said: ‘I think it’s important the fans know I am completely committed to Liverpool and I’m going nowhere.

‘I know there’s been a lot of speculation in the Spanish media linking me with Real Madrid.

‘Any manager would be honoured to be associated with such a famous club, especially as Madrid is my home city and also my former club.

‘However, I want to make it clear I am very happy at Anfield and very happy in England and I’m genuinely excited by what the future holds for Liverpool.’

He added: ‘I’ve had some extremely positive discussions with the new owners and share their enthusiasm and determination to take this club back to the very top.

‘I will be sitting down shortly with both Mr Gillett and Mr Hicks to discuss things face to face, but an enormous amount of work is already underway in preparation for the way forward.’

The shadow of Madrid’s interest in Benitez has hung over Liverpool ever since he started his now 33-month control at Anfield.

It increased when Liverpool won the Champions League in Istanbul and last summer both Benitez and chief executive Rick Parry admitted that the Spanish giants had made an official approach for the man who used to manager their youth and reserve side.

And only last week when Benitez suggested that the new Liverpool owners needed to ‘move faster’ over plans for the future, it sparked another flurry of rumours about his own future.

Benitez was irritated that he had not spoken face-to-face with the pair since the day the club’s takeover was announced.

Hicks and Gillett watched the win over Barcelona in the last Champions League round and left Anfield without going into the dressing room or speaking to Benitez.

Within hours of Benitez’s ‘let’s move faster’ comment, the Americans contacted him by e-mail for a trans-Atlantic chat.

Now the pair have confirmed they will be at Anfield for the next match, against Arsenal on March 31, and will then have detailed talks with Benitez.

Hicks told Radio Five Live today: ‘We’ve set a meeting time to get together with Rafa after the Arsenal match.

‘I will have all my family there, George will have all his family there and we’ll celebrate our first game as new owners.

‘Then we’ve set aside the day to talk about things (with Benitez).’

Asked if the former Valencia boss figured in the pair’s future plans, he said: ‘Absolutely.’